Daily NCAA Compliance Tips from Jen Condaras

Ocean State University is in the process of certifying its student-athletes for the upcoming academic year. During this process, the certifying officer discovered that two sophomore student-athletes, Base Line (tennis student-athlete) and Line Drive (baseball student-athlete), do not meet the 24 credit hour requirement [Bylaw 14.4.3.1(a)] prior to the start of the 2014-15 academic year. Both student-athletes completed 12 hours during the spring 2014 semester, 3 hours during the summer 2014 term and are enrolled in 12 hours for the fall 2014 semester.

Which of the following is true assuming ALL OTHER NCAA progress toward degree requirements are met?

A. Base can be eligible for the spring 2015 semester if she passes at least 9 hours during the fall 2014 semester.

B. Line can be eligible for the spring 2015 semester if he passes at least 9 hours during the fall 2014 semester.

C. Both A and B are true.

D. Neither A or B are true.

The answer is A. Although NCAA Bylaw 14.4.3.1.3 states that for purposes of Bylaw 14.4.3.1-(a), a student-athlete who does not meet the 24-semester or 36-quarter credit-hour requirement prior to the start of his or her second year of collegiate enrollment (third semester, fourth quarter), may become eligible at the beginning of the next academic term by successfully completing 24-semester or 36-quarter hours during the previous two semesters or three quarters, NCAA Bylaw 14.4.3.1.3.1 indicates that in baseball, a student-athlete who is subject to the 24-semester or 36-quarter credit-hour requirement at the beginning of an institution’s fall term and fails to meet the requirement based on the student-athlete’s academic record in existence at that time shall not be eligible during the remainder of the academic year. (Adopted: 4/26/07 effective 8/1/08)